Mission San Jose Past: a panel discussion and documentary

A panel of historians and community leaders are expected discuss the history of Old Mission San Jose in Fremont in an event scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday — right around the time that a film crew is slated to arrive to film part of a documentary about California’s missions.

The eight-person panel will discuss the following theme: “Mission San Jose: Past, Present and Future of the East Bay and the Bay Area.” The event will be held at Mission Church at 43266 Mission Blvd. Topics will include how the site for Mission San Jose (in Fremont) was chosen and the Bay Area’s changing demographics and modes of transportation, among others.

Meanwhile, a film crew is expected to film several horseback riders arriving at the Mission to recreate how people traveled from each Mission in the early days of California. The riders are traveling by horse from from Mission to Mission — starting in Sonoma and ending in San Diego — as part of the documentary.

The public is invited. Admission free. Following the discussion, a catered dinner will be held in St. Joseph Parish Hall next door to Mission Church. The dinner will cost $25 per person. To make a reservation, call Andrew Galvan at 510-882-0527.

The eight-person panel will include: Dolores Ferenz, administrator of Old Mission San Jose; Andrew Galvan, president of the Committee to Restore Mission San Jose; Vincent Medina, Jr. assistant curator at Mission Dolores, who is seeking to revive the Ohlone Language; Kent Lightfoot, professor at UC Berkeley’s Department of Anthropology; Breck Parkman Sr., state archeologist at California Parks and Recreation; Stuart Guedon, archeologist and historical geographer at Basin Research Associates; Thomas Blalock, member of BART’s board of directors; and Jack Boatwright, Northern California Regional Co-Coordinator at USGS.